6 Reasons to Promote 21st Century Skills vs 21st Century Tech

“Any educator that aims at completeness must be at once theoretical and practical, intellectual and moral.” Aldous Huxley, Words and Their Meaning, 1940.

There are many skills that go into creating that ‘complete’ learning experience that we want for our students. Theory, practical, intellectual and moral principles all play important roles in the development of a strong pedagogy. Good pedagogy evolves with the times – just like technology. The higher order skills we need to educate our students about are still basically the same, however, we may have some new ways of imparting these skills on our students based on new technologies and concepts we have access to in the 21^st Century.

What are 21^st Century Skills?

There is a difference between teaching students 21^st Century skills, and 21^st century technologies. We need to find new ways of implementing seamless tech and pedagogy simultaneously – yet not one replacing the other.

The caveat is however, that 21^st century skills are not necessarily new at all, but have been firmly planted in pedagogy for centuries, dating all the way back to philosophers such as Plato and Socrates. Sound Pedagogy, as taught by these famous philosophers have always encompassed the following important skills:

1) Critical Thinking;  2) Problem Solving; 3) Communication; 4) Metacognition; 5) Reflection; 6) Ethics and Morality

These skills do not change just because we have entered the 21^st Century of Technology, Globalization and Social Media. However, these skills can be easily forgotten with the pressures to integrate new technologies into educational programming.

Despite the fact that these skills have existed, and been identified and shared by the likes of Socrates and Plato, they are often called 21^st Century Skills. I would prefer to call them the Key Learning Skills. Let’s explore the reasons why we need to embed Key Learning Skills into our Pedagogy.

6 Reasons to Promote Key Learning Skills vs 21st Century Technologies

1. In the 21^st Century, we have new terms, such as Globalization, Media Literacy, Digital Citizenship, and Social Media. Students without question, need our Educational Systems to help them build solid Frameworks for these terms, to help them build, create, and integrate 21^st Century Skills.

2. 21^st Century Technology and 21^st Century Skills are not one in the same. Merely using the technology, and engaging with it, is much different than dissecting it and using it to build critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, metacognition and reflective skills. Students still need the basics of good communication regardless of the type of media or platform being used.  21^st century, or any century.

3. Sound Pedagogy is not about training individuals for the global market, and making them competitive in today’s markets. We don’t want to lose sight of that. Students need 21^st Century skills to create and meet their own goals, contribute to the world, pursue true knowledge, and create personal success in life.

4. Human beings have not changed that much over time. Despite the fact that we exist in the 21^st Century, the same basic problems that have plagued humans since the beginning of time have not ceased to exist. Humans still have the same basic needs for obtaining food, water, sustenance; communication and connection with others; shelter, safety, and privacy, love and acceptance.  Therefore, we still need to have sound Pedagogy to help all people continue to meet their needs, and engage in the pursuit of true knowledge. People will always need the skills and knowledge to be able to handle all of the changes and challenges that come up in life. 

5. Without these Key Learning Skills, students have the potential to damage reputations, digital footprints, and future job prospects. For a very long time. In the 21^st Century, more than any other time in history, everything that a person does online will never fully be erased, and will follow someone for a lifetime. I am an adult, and even I don’t understand the full ramifications of 21^st Century technologies. We cannot assume our children do.  

6. Educators still need to still need to attend cultural diversities in our schools and school systems. It is still important to infuse culture into all areas of the Educational system, including 21^st century technologies, and is absolutely essential to sound pedagogical practice.

On a final note, all educators can engage in sound strategies that promote Key Learning Strategies and much akin to the 21^st Century skill sets promoted by many. Nevertheless, we must not confuse 21^st Century skills with 21^st Century technologies.

Deborah McCallum

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